october
Anglican Parish GERALDINE
newsletter november OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | 2023
Prayers for renewal rewarded Tena koutou katoa. Welcome to the spring edition of our newsletter. In the last edition we talked about prayerful decisions needing to be made regarding the future of St Mary’s Sunday School Hall. I am pleased to say that the meeting reached the unanimous decision that, were it possible to sell the building to a suitable trust, for community purposes, at an acceptable price, we should do so. Comment was also made that, as a church, we endorse the creative work of the current occupiers, the Geraldine Academy for Performance and Art. The big event of the last period was the diocesan synod on which we offer a report within. As I have reported verbally, as well as dealing with dry business issues, we were exhorted to pray and to read our bibles. Many of these comments came from the younger set. Our prayers for renewal are bearing fruit. We have already seen new folk join the St Mary’s congregation in the persons of Chris and Alison Longson, Claire Millichamp, and Sharon Naughton who has now joined the musicians’ roster. The last few weeks have seen Ron and Heather Smith relocate from Wales to live on the Downs. On just his second week, Ron has already begun to help with morning teas. Our Christmas choir has attracted around 20 people and we have already had four sessions. We will have a pause until after the school holidays, but it is good to have an energetic buzz around the place. And, speaking of energy, Messy Church, on the last Sunday of every month at St Mary’s, is attracting around 30-40 folk at each session. But we are also saying farewell. Adrienne Wooding is relocating to Melbourne to be near her daughter’s family. Sad for us, but great for her grandchildren. Adrienne has done an enormous amount for the parish over the years.
We shall miss her. Her last Sunday at St Mary’s is 22 October before she flies away a few days later. We shall not let the occasion go unmarked. Elaine Taylor, who is a good friend of the parish, chair of Geraldine Arts Council and former member of the Geraldine Players, has undertaken to direct our Christmas Nativity play to be held on Sunday, 10 December at 4pm. The cast will feature some of our Messy Church children. We will run it jointly with the Geraldine Arts Council to allow access to funding for props, costumes, et cetera simpler. Please put it in your diaries. I have read through the script; it should be fun as well as offering the real story of Christmas. Before that, our Geraldine Festival weekend is going to be a big one. Friend of the parish Ron Bax will be selling merchandise as only he knows how, meanwhile, Susanne has an art sale planned. We will also hold our usual Soul Food concert on Friday, 17 November, the proceeds of which will this year go to the Smedleys’ Malawi project, Mphatikizo. Let’s hope we don’t trip over one another with so much going on. As we get nearer Christmas, Susanne is interested in us taking part in the Christmas parade… Nga mihi nui.
Rev Hugh McCafferty PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
PS. On the first Sunday in October the Ven Rev Ben Randall and I have arranged a pulpit swap. I will be preaching at St Mary’s, Timaru while Ben will preach at both St Mary’s here and at St Stephen’s. The following Sunday Rev Alan Cummins will preach at St Mary’s and St Thomas’.